Real Madrid playmaker Kaka is hopeful he can start to enjoy his football again after scoring a brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.The victory keeps Madrid’s hopes of snatching the title from leader Barcelona’s grasp alive, although they remain a relatively distant eight points behind their rivals.
Kaka, a World Cup winner with Brazil and former World Player of the Year, said he was indebted to the club for their perseverance with him despite his series of injuries that have hampered his playing time in Spain.
“I need to work hard to enjoy football again. The only problem was with my knee, which limited me from playing all out,” the former AC Milan star said.
“I need to work hard down the home stretch of the season. I hope to have fun playing football. I feel like I owe it to Real Madrid and the fact that I haven’t fulfilled expectations bothers me.”
Despite speculation of a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, fuelled by coach Jose Mourinho’s preference for German midfielder Mesut Oezil, Kaka insisted he was happy working under the colourful Portuguese.
“I am grateful to Mourinho for everything he has done to help me. I have no problem with him whatsoever. He is a great coach and he is helping me grow as a footballer,” Kaka said.
Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka was thrilled with the Brazilian’s effort against Bilbao.
“Kaka played a great game,” said, Karanka, who was filling in for Mourinho at the post-match press conference.
“He looked good, especially after all the things that happened with him in regards to his injury.
“It is vitally important that Kaka is fit because there are important games coming up for us.”
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists his side are still in the title hunt.
The World Cup-winning goalkeeper, while admitting it would require a monumental effort to usurp Barcelona at the top, said such a feat was not beyond possibility.
“We are going to continue thinking about winning and earning points so that no one believe this league is over,” Casillas said.
“It will be hard to win, but you never know what can happen. One play or mistake can change everything.”
Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp has warned his squad to be wary of complacency as the Bundesliga season nears a close.Dortmund have been the pacesetters for much of the campaign, and with four games remaining they have an eight-point lead over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen on top of the Bundesliga table.
But Klopp has warned his men against taking results for granted in the run home, with games against Borussia Moenchengladbach, Nuremberg, Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt still to come.
“That we are now eight points ahead, has of course our attention, but the season is not over yet and we looking forward to play the following games,” Klopp said.
“Of course, you can always worry if you want to, but the team made in any situation, even extreme situations, always a great impression – they are 100 percent focused.”
“For example in situations like the game against Leverkusen or Bayern, the team showed great force, so I was quite confident that they will manage the games fine.”
Birmingham City’s joint first-team coach, Peter Grant, has told his side they cannot be worried about Sunday’s crunch clash with Fulham.Birmingham are 16th, just three points above the relegation zone, although both Blackpool and Wolves could make their position even more perilous by winning on Saturday.
And Grant admits the game with Fulham is absolutely vital, but he believes his side deserve to stay up due to their performances this season.
“Let’s not kid ourselves, we’d rather be sitting nicely in seventh or eighth, safe and comfortable, but we’re not,” he said.
“The players are more than disappointed at some of the points we have not picked up.”
“We should have had more, and we’ve let points drop for silly reasons.”
“That’s a big thing. That shows the level we are. Some teams are happy to just survive, we’re not, we’ve wanted more than that.”
“I’m sure the guys will be ready on Sunday. You can sense it with them.”
“They’re desperate to do well, they’ve got the bit between their teeth and are desperate to remain Premier League players.”
“It’s a massive game and you can’t go into them with any fear.”
“There’s nervous energy, for sure, and excitement about the game, but you can’t go in with any fear. You have to look forward to the challenge.
“They will do their utmost so that Birmingham stay in the league. Over the piece, I think we’ve deserved to, but you’ve got to do that, prove it.”
“You can deserve something without actually grabbing it – and we’ve got to grab it Sunday.”
But Birmingham will have to do without top scorer Craig Gardner and defender Liam Ridgewell, both of whom are suspended.
Nikola Zigic is also unlikely to play as he battles hip and groin injuries.
A star-studded line-up of former international football greats headed by Diego Maradona has played a one-off game in Grozny, Chechnya.The match, played between an all-star side and a team of Russian and Chechen players captained by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, was played to open a new 30,000-seat stadium in the war-torn republic.
As well as Argentine captain Maradona, other greats of yesteryear who took to the field included former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, Franco Baresi, Luis Figo and former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
Kadyrov scored twice to lead his side to a 5-2 win over the visiting all-stars, as Chechnya celebrated the opening of the new stadium which was built to replace the one that was destroyed when Kadyrov’s father – former Chechen president Akhmad Kadyrov – was killed by a bomb blast in 2004.
Critics have dismissed the game – which began at 11pm local time on Wednesday – as a public relations stunt designed to deflect attention away from the human rights abuses that have taken place under Kadyrov’s rule, which began in 2007.
The stadium will be the home ground for local club Terek Grozny, as football in the republic begins to build a profile.
In January, Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed as Terek’s manager.
Sir Alex Ferguson scooped the LMA award and then showered praise on Carlo Ancelotti for the dignity he has shown in light of his Chelsea sacking. Elsewhere Jack Wilshere was overlooked for the U21s after Arsenal used GPS science, while Boca Juniors claim they have a good chance to sign Carlos Tevez this summer.
In the papers there has been a mixed bag of stories that include Harry Redknapp aims to play youngsters in the Europa League; Brad Friedel set to move to Liverpool, while Carlton Cole is set to lead the West Ham exodus.
*
Ferguson scoops Manager of the Year award… and then lauds axed Ancelotti – Daily Mail
PL considered CL play-off – Sky Sports
Chelsea confident of tempting Hiddink to replace Ancelotti – Guardian
Cole set to lead Upton Park exodus – Daily Telegraph
Friedel snubs Villa stay to play second fiddle to Reina at Liverpool – Daily Mail
Aguero sparks bidding war – Sun
GPS science sparked Wilshere U-turn – Guardian
O’Hara in plea to stay at Wolves – Sun
Boca Juniors claim: Good chance we’ll sign Tevez – Mirror
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Redknapp to play youngsters in Europe – Guardian
Newcastle keen on ‘the new Drogba’ as talks stall over new Barton deal – Daily Mail
The Netherlands are preparing to meet Brazil in an international friendly in Goiania.The Dutch squad are training in Rio de Janeiro in what will be a repeat of their 2010 World Cup quarter-final in South Afica.
They won that match 2-1 and went on to reach the World Cup final, where they lost to Spain.
Bert van Marwijk’s squad will include established stars like Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Dirk Kuyt.
But captain Mark Van Bommel, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart are missing.
One travelling Dutch fan said that without Sneijder, the side would be severely weakened.
“This team this time is 80 percent without Sneijder,” fan Patrick Sneller said.
“It will not be the same game as in South Africa, but they are motivated. It’s not only a friendly.”
As hosts of the 2014 World Cup, Brazil do not need to qualify and are in preparation mode for July’s Copa America in Argentina.
The friendly takes place at Estadio Serra Dourada on Saturday.
Despite the outlay of over £50 million pounds many United fans still expect at least one more big money signing before the transfer window closes.
Luka Modric, Samir Nasri and Wesley Sneijder seem to be the most prominent protagonists of United transfer target stories, although you could also add Alexis Sanchez to that list as although waters been poured on the ‘moving to United’ fire there’s still some smoke left as his move to Barcelona drags on.
Like any other United, I more than welcome quality players coming to the club and would have no problem with any of the aforementioned players arriving at Old Trafford, even if it meant an outlay of £30 million.
There may remain some doubt as to whether United will sign any more players this season, but one thing is certain at least one or two seem destined for the exit door.
John O’Shea, Wes Brown , Darron Gibson , Gabriel Obertan and Dimitar Berbatov are the most commonly named players when it comes to the predicted United exodus, with some papers claiming that the likes of Jonny Evans and Tomas Kuszczak are also on their way.
Let’s be perfectly honest, you’d be hard pressed to find a United fan who’d lose too much sleep over the exit of Obertan, there’s a strong -or at least half decent – argument to be made that all of them could still offer something at United next season.
The loss of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Edwin Van Der Sar and to a lesser extent Owen Hargreaves, deprives United of not just four experienced players but also particularly with the first two, men who know exactly what it means to play for Manchester United.
It’s not just about being able to perform when you’re at a club like United, it’s about understanding the sheer scale and size of the behemoth you’re now part of. It can overawe some players, while others may not ever fully grasp that the ‘United way’ doesn’t just mean what happens on the football pitch but also seaps into every fabric of your life.
Ryan Giggs’ extra marital indiscresions aside, almost every United player often has to conduct themselves in a manner that doesn’t give Sir Alex Ferguson cause to take his hairdryer out of the cupboard.
United is a beast far unlike any other in English football as no other club can come close to the fan base, history and expectation that goes with putting on that red shirt.
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When winning a record breaking 19th title and making the Champions League final is seen as something of a disappointment in certain quarters, when your lowest attendance is larger than almost any other teams biggest then you know your part of something special.
Scholes and Neville know about being part of United better than anyone, while VDS and Hargreaves know what it’s like to acheive the sort of success the club demands.
O’Shea, Gibson and Brown have all been brought through the clubs ranks and played their part in it’s history. They also are still capable of doing a job, albeit from the fringes of the squad. While in the past I’ve argued that such a dedicated servant as Brown deserves to be allowed to move on, due to his lack of first team opportunities, I’d actually like to see Gibson and O’Shea kept on. Although that is highly unlikely, I think it’s important to keep hold of experienced players, or those that have come through the ranks and would actually welcome the two Irish internationals staying on.
Gibson may be persona non grata among many Reds but I’ve long since championed him as underrated squad player who serves a purpose especially against the so-called smaller clubs.
O’Shea began last season making me wanting to rip my hair out but actually proved his worth towards the end of the campaign with some assured displays. Regardless of whether you appreciate O’Shea or not, there’s no denying that any player with over 300 appearances for the Reds at least has the benefit of bringing experience to the side.
That brings me to Berbatov, who I think should be kept at the club at practically any cost. The Bugarian brings an extra dimension to the United side and although he’d obviously be behind Wayne Rooney and Chicharito in the pecking order he’s still a great option should injury or the amount of games be called into account.
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Berbatov may not have convinced everyone but with 20 league goals last season, there’s no arguing that without him, it would be 18 titles instead of 19.
Even Kuszczak could still offer something at United, despite his somewhat self destructive display at Ewood Park. Unlike Anders Lindegaard the Pole’s got some real experience which may come in useful should David De Gea need a bit of a rest.
With three new signings and all the young players at the club plus the retiring of some of the ‘old guard’ now may not be the ideal time to see more trusted servants depart the club.
Buying another big name star may seem like the most important thing Sir Alex Ferguson could do this summer but keeping hold of some of the more experienced players at the club should be the real priority.
Read more of Justin’s articles at Red Flag Flying High
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan claimed the wrong team won the German Super Cup on Saturday.Arch-rivals Schalke triumphed 4-3 on penalty kicks against the reigning Bundesliga champions after a lively match surprisingly ended scoreless after 90 minutes.
“I believe that Schalke’s win is undeserved,” the former Nurnberg man told Sport.de.
“I lost count of how many clear-cut opportunities we managed to pass up.”
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp was rather less confrontational despite seeing his side lose, acknowledging that some aspects of his side’s play still need to be fine-tuned before the league kicks off in two weeks.
“I am not unhappy. We knew beforehand that everything cannot be perfect. Despite that, I think that we have witnessed a superb game of football.”
Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick heaped praise upon goalkeeper Ralf Rahrmann following his heroics.
Fahrmann made two saves in the shoot-out as Schalke earned their first-ever Super Cup victory.
“Ralf Fahrmann played an immense game. He also gathered a lot of confidence from his team-mates,” Rangnick said.
Reflecting on the match as a whole, the coach was pleased, but admitted that Schalke have some distance to go before they hit top form.
“That was the right benchmark. It was clear that we could not keep Dortmund from coming up with opportunities for 90 minutes. But the bottom line is that the lads have done well.
“We still need to use the two weeks leading up to the start of the league; it’s good that we still have some time.”
Fahrmann himself was delighted with the result.
“The victory is satisfying, just super,” he said.
When asked for his thoughts about filling in for departed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, he replied, “I will do my best to fill this gap in the coming season.”
He has been admired and praised throughout a startlingly successful career, called ‘the best’ and ‘irreplaceable’ by fans, team mates and back room staff alike.
But now the legendary midfield maestro Paul Scholes has hung up his boots, isn’t the time right for another bright, young talent to step forward into the limelight at Old Trafford?
When you partner the loss of Paul Scholes with recent departures of Wes Brown, John O’Shea and more likely than not, Darron Gibson in the not too distant future, the current squad of the Premiership champions is looking rather thin of home grown players.
With the introduction of Ashley Young, Phil Jones and a more responsible role for Chris Smalling this season likely, Sir Alex Ferguson has brought in some promising English talent to bolster his squad. Especially when you consider the advantages of a possible future English international central defensive partnership being forged in Jones and Smalling, there is potential for real mental understanding and a strong communicative bond that could prove effective, long term, for both club and country. These introductions do not only show promise for the future English international set up but also allow positive adherence to the FA regulations regarding players trained in England from youth level.
Not that United have ever had a problem with this rule. Even though it has only recently been enforced within the Premier League Ferguson has always attained a strong influence of British/Irish players within his squads. He has brought in, managed and given the all important career break trough to many of arguably the best British/Irish footballers within his managerial generation. Players like Giggs, Keane, Sheringham, Irwin and the graduates of the famous ‘class of ‘92’ have all seen action within United’s first team a long time before the home grown regulations came into play, as well as Rooney, Fletcher, Ferdinand and Owen more recently.
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However not too many players have made the all important transition from the youth set up at Carrington to the first team at Old Trafford. Making an impact in the first team at United is understandably difficult when considering the quality within the squad currently and the availability to bring in world class players. Never the less, many of the back room staff, fans and ex-players, who are still very much involved at the club, have voiced their confidence in the talent and potential coming through the youth ranks currently.
Players like Tom Cleverley, who impressed a great deal during last seasons campaign on loan at Wigan, and, the constantly touted for greatness, Ravel Morrison, both seem to possess bags of ability and potential, as well as playing in creative midfield positions very much like that of Paul Scholes during his time at Old Trafford. Paul Pogba too, although French in nationality, could be labelled as ‘home grown’ due to the age at which he joined the academy at United. He too has received a strong backing from youth staff and is tipped to develop into a quality player. Allowing potential talents like these to develop fully, including vital experience with the first team, may prove to generate the continuity of quality and football mentality of ‘team performance’ over ‘individual performance’ that may one day rival that of the Catalan giants Barcelona.
Nobody could ever doubt Scholes’ commitment or drive, nor his lasting energy and passion, to occupy a key position within the team when playing for United during the close season of his career but with his departure comes an opportunity for some of these much talked about talents to be given a chance within the first team.
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Ferguson could choose to send many of the future prospective stars out on loan again this year, allowing them to probably gain more first team experience than they would at Old Trafford, however giving them a chance to train and play with the first team, learn how each other play from a young age, develop in the company of strong, and experienced, British footballing role models and ultimately offering them an incentive to commit, perform and be a significant part of the club could lead to the next David Beckham, the next Ryan Giggs or even the next Paul Scholes.
Article courtesy of Oliver Jones from The Busby Way
With the start of the new season just over 2 weeks away and the transfer window nearing its climax, clubs are busy making their final preparations for the season ahead. Some clubs have been extremely busy in the transfer window, whereas some have seemingly taken no action-though there is still time-but is it beneficial to play a waiting game before shopping in the transfer window?
On the plus side it can work out cheaper if you leave it until the last minute. Spurs got Rafael Van der Vaart for a snip at £8 million last year. If clubs are willing to offload then you could get a bargain, but if they aren’t willing to sell, it could ultimately push the price up. Before late August clubs can demand a lot of money, even if they player wants to leave, but the price will drop daily as we near the closing of the window. If a player wants out from a club, then the side have to sell, there is nothing worse than having an unsettled player on your books who would rather be somewhere else.
However, playing a waiting game means there are no guarantees that you will get your man. With time running out, you could perhaps be forced into transfers which in reflection may not be wise. You could also be left with money to spend, but no-one to spend it on. Look at Tottenham who sold Dimitar Berbatov for a great price late in the 2008 transfer window, but subsequently couldn’t get anyone in to replace him.
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Also leaving it so late could be damaging for the squad in the short term. The player will have missed out on valuable squad gelling time, not just on-field, but off-field bonding time. Pre-season will have been lost, and the season may have already got under way, which means the player might not be ready to slot straight into your side. It is a technique which could cost you valuable points at the early stage of the season, which come the end of the season, could prove crucial. At the beginning of the 2008 season when Spurs lost Berbatov and Robbie Keane they subsequently took 2 points out of 18, and it resulted in the sack for Juande Ramos, highlighting that last minute wheeling and dealing is not always a good thing, and can be highly detrimental to the team and the season ahead.
A team needs to be strong from the start of the season, and buying a player so late, means they might not have time to settle in, or be ready to go when the season starts. Manchester United have struck early, got the players they wanted, which means they have plenty of time to bed into the squad with time to gel and play cohesively from the start of the season. Small margins such as late or early action in the transfer window, can prove to be the difference between sides over a Premier League season.
It’s a tough choice for clubs, do they hold out for a bargain at the risk of the player not being ready to play or settled at the club, or do they pay over the odds early in the window, giving the player time to settle into the side with a strong pre-season behind them. Whichever way clubs look at it, the transfer window waiting game is certainly a tricky one to get right.
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